Audit Trail
The record showing who changed what and when.
Definition
Audit Trail is The record showing who changed what and when. In day-to-day operations, it matters when the operation needs to prove who did what, who a counterparty really is, or where suspicious activity may be hiding.
Operationally, it matters because control frameworks only work when identity checks and change history are easy to verify later. The term is usually part of a larger trail, not a one-off checkbox.
Use cases
Use Audit Trail to prove who a party is and how a record changed over time.
Review Audit Trail when the team needs to spot suspicious activity before it turns into a bigger control issue.
Track Audit Trail so operations can keep identity checks and system history ready for later review.